ELIAS'S POV

Twenty-four hours felt like forever.

We spent the day hiding. Not literally. But staying in Ronan's room. Away from hostile students. Away from cameras. Away from everything.

My phone kept buzzing. Messages from people I didn't know. Some are supportive. Some hateful. I stopped reading them.

Ronan checked the vote count every hour. The Academy posted real-time updates. Anonymous but public.

By noon: 48% yes. 52% no.

We were losing.

"It's still early," Ronan said. "People are ...